Colour mixing activities for kids
Six hands-on ideas for finding out what happens when colours meet. Some use washable paint, and others need no paint at all, just pencils, plastic folders, a walk outside or a notebook. Each one lists an age hint, what to bring, simple steps and a notice question to talk about. Mixing blue and yellow usually gives green, and your family may discover plenty of surprises along the way.
Safety first
Use only washable, non-toxic paints and pencils made for children, and check the label. Stay with your child throughout, and keep a very close eye on children under three, who may try to put brushes, paint or pencils in their mouths. Nothing here is for tasting, and please do not use food or drink as paint. Cover the table with newspaper or a wipe-clean cloth, put an old shirt or apron on your child, and keep a damp cloth nearby. Pencil points are sharp, so go gently. Wash hands well afterwards and put every material away. Age hints are only a guide, so you know your child best.
1. Paper plate palette
Age hint: 3 and up.
Bring: a paper plate, washable non-toxic paint in red, yellow and blue, a thick brush or cotton bud, and a sheet of thick paper.
- Put one small blob of each colour around the edge of the plate, with space between them.
- Pick two colours and swirl a little of each together in the middle of the plate.
- Paint a patch of your new colour on the paper and write which two colours made it.
- Wipe the brush and try another pair. Keep each mix to two colours so they stay bright.
Notice: What did you get when you mixed blue and yellow, and was it what you expected?
2. Watercolour pencils and a wet brush
Age hint: 5 and up.
Bring: watercolour pencils, a small pot of clean water, a soft brush, thick paper and a cloth.
- Draw two patches of different colours so that they touch or overlap a little.
- Dip the brush in water, dab off the drips on the cloth, and stroke across the patches.
- Watch the colours soften and run together where they meet.
- Try pale layers first, then a darker one on top, and compare the dry results.
Notice: How does the colour change between the dry pencil and the wet brush?
3. Overlay sheets in the light
Age hint: 3 and up.
Bring: see-through coloured plastic folders or sheets in a few colours, and a grown-up to cut them into hand-sized squares with smooth edges.
- Hold one coloured square up and look at the room through it.
- Lay a second colour over the first, and hold both up to a lamp or a bright window that is not facing the sun.
- Look at the place where the two colours overlap and say what you see.
- Never hold the sheets toward the sun and never look at the sun, even through a coloured sheet. Keep the sheets away from faces, and keep any cut pieces out of mouths.
Notice: Which two sheets gave the most interesting colour where they overlapped?
4. Colour wheel drawing
Age hint: 5 and up.
Bring: a plate or bowl to trace around, a pencil, and washable paints, pencils or crayons in red, yellow and blue.
- Trace a circle and divide it into six slices, like a pizza.
- Colour three slices with red, yellow and blue, leaving a gap between each one.
- Fill each gap with a mix of the two colours on either side of it. Red and yellow will usually give orange.
- Compare your wheel with a friend's and see how the mixes differ.
Notice: Which mixed colour surprised you most?
5. Rainbow walk
Age hint: 3 and up.
Bring: a small card with coloured squares and a pencil, or just your eyes.
- Choose six colours to find and colour in a square for each one.
- Walk slowly around the house, street or park and spot something in each colour.
- Point or tell your grown-up, tick the square, and leave everything where it is.
- Look for in-between shades too, such as a blue that is nearly green.
Notice: Which colours were easy to find, and which shades could you not quite name?
6. Colour diary
Age hint: 4 and up.
Bring: a small notebook, and pencils, crayons or washable paints.
- Each day, pick one colour you noticed, or one you made while mixing.
- Paint or colour a patch in the notebook and write or tell where you found it.
- Add a note about which colours you mixed to get it, if you made it yourself.
- After a week, flip back through the pages together.
Notice: Which colour do you see most often, and which one would you like to see more of?
More to do on Rangooo
Play with names and matching in shape and colour games, paint a stone with pebble painting for kids, draw what you made with easy drawing ideas, try more easy science activities, head out on a nature walk, browse more stories and activities, or see resources for teachers.
Questions
What age are colour mixing activities for?
Most of these ideas suit ages three to eight with a grown-up nearby. The paper plate palette, overlay sheets and rainbow walk work well for the youngest children, while watercolour pencils, the colour wheel and the colour diary suit slightly older ones. Under threes need a grown-up beside them the whole time.
Do we have to use paint?
No. Watercolour pencils with a wet brush, coloured plastic folders held up to a lamp (never toward the sun), and the rainbow walk need no paint at all. Please do not use food as paint, because it can lead children to taste their materials.
Why did our colours turn muddy brown?
This is very common. Mixing many colours together, or adding lots of different ones to the same puddle, often gives a dull brownish shade. Try mixing only two colours at a time and use a clean brush or a fresh patch of the plate for each new mix.
Will the paint stain our clothes and table?
Washable paints are designed to wash out of most things, but results vary, so cover the table and wear an old shirt or apron. Check the label on your paint, and wipe spills quickly.
These are our own simple ideas. Paints, materials and children differ, so adapt each activity to your own setting. Always supervise young children during art activities. If you spot a mistake, please tell us and we will fix it.